North Carolina Assistant Chief Honored for Rescue

Firefighters perform heroic acts everyday and very few of these acts are noted and recognized. Firehouse.com, in conjunction with the Annual Firehouse Magazine Heroism & Community Service Awards, will be featuring overthe next few days, interviews with some of the winners as well as the complete winners lists just published in the recent April edition of Firehouse Magazine.

MEBANE, N.C.-- First responders are not only trained to be prepared for any situation, but also to follow safety guidelines to protect themselves.

On Oct. 22, 2006, Mebane, N.C. Assistant Chief Tim Bradley went against a lot of what he's helped teach for close to three decades, but in the end has no regrets.

"You always evaluate the potential for gain against the potential for risk," he said. "You never put yourself in a situation were you will become a causality."

On that Monday night at approximately 9:42 p.m., Bradley rescued a five-year-old boy from a burning house, without the use of an SCBA. As the commanding officer, Bradley arrived in his personal vehicle, donning turnout gear, but made it to the scene more than two minutes before the first arriving engine.

"I never was concerned about not getting out," he said, noting that he believed the child didn't have much time.

"I came up in the fire service in the early 70s and we didn't use (SCBAs) anyway. I had fought a lot of structure fires without air packs," he said. "It's just something we don't teach people to do."

Assessing the Situation

Bradley said that when the call first came in, it was for a family of four trapped in a house fire. He left his home -- which is closer to the area than the station -- and headed for the scene.

When he arrived, he saw the smoke and heard the mother screaming. He was notified by a neighbor that the boy was still stuck in the house, which was confirmed by a highway patrol officer who was at the scene.

That is when Bradley decided to go into the structure, knowing that the first engine was far behind. "The window was puffing, but there weren't any visible flames," he said.

Entering first through the rear door, he was forced back by the now visible flames. Bradley then moved to a window where the officer gave him a boost. Once inside he said it was difficult to see, but soon found the young boy near a doorway, behind a dresser.

The boy was burned and unconscious on the floor of the room Bradley was in as he lifted his body and handed him to the officer through the window. By that time the rest of the department had made it to the house.

"I got him back to the patrol officer who brought him to the ambulance," he said. "I think they had to pull me out of the window. I don't remember much after that."

Recovering

Bradley was only held overnight at a hospital for observation after suffering from smoke inhalation, but said it was a long, tough road for the little boy.

He received two skin graphs and was in the burn center for close to two months. During that time, Bradley spent time with the boy, meeting him for the first time since the incident three weeks later.

Today, the boy is back in school, Bradley said, and has even taught his classmates about the dangers of fire and what to do in the case of one.

Since the incident occurred, Bradley was awarded with his department's valor award, and was nominated for the Mine Safety Appliance's (MSA) Fireslayer Award, something that surprised him since the company specializes in breathing devices.

No matter what other awards he receives, he said the rescue was ultimately the work of the entire group.

"You have to give a lot of credit to the EMS workers, the trooper and the engine crew," he said. "As with any situation like that; it's always a team effort."

Bradley, who at the age of 52 has been a volunteer firefighter for 34 years and has worked for North Carolina's fire marshal's office for 21 years, said rescuing the boy was one of the high points of his career.

He said it also showed that he still has it after all these years.

"I'm too old to be jumping through windows; or that's what people tell me anyways," he said with a laugh.

2007 Firehouse Heroism Awards

Grand Prize Recipient

Firefighter James T. Byrne, FDNY Ladder 121
After leading a probationary firefighter to a refuge area, he crawled 22 feet under wind-driven flames to rescue a downed firefighter. He carried him back to safety.

$750 Award Winners

Assistant Chief Tim Bradley, Mebane, NC, Fire Department
Arriving before fire apparatus, he entered a well-involved mobile home to rescue a child without SCBA or a hoseline.

Firefighter Joseph W. Donatelli, FDNY Ladder 132
After being lowered from the roof on a rope, rescued a woman trapped on the 25th floor as fire burned on the two floors below.

$500 Award Winners

Lieutenant Albert Cinotti, West Islip, NY, Fire Department, Company 4
While returning home from the firehouse, he came upon a house fire and without any protective equipment, entered the structure and removed an elderly male. Moments after he exited the structure, the room flashed over.

Firefighter Thomas McGlade, FDNY, Ladder 14
After being extended by tower ladder into the East River, he rescued a man 120 feet from the shore as he was being swept by strong currents.

$250 Award Winners

Captain James W. Kitson FDNY, Ladder 47
Crawled into an apartment fire to locate an unconscious man. He dragged the victim to safety.

Captain Peter Melly, FDNY, Division 7
While attempting to shut the door to an apartment while several firefighters were trapped by 50-mph wind- fueled flames, he was hit by a stream and lost his helmet and face piece. He suffered second-degree burns

$200 Award Winners

Firefighter George Eonas, Brockton, MA, Fire Department, Tower 2
After helping remove one victim of a house fire to safety, he stayed with another victims until a safe means of egress was found.

Firefighter Kevin Galligan, Brockton, MA, Fire Department, Tower 2.
Arriving first at a house fire, he used a ladder to rescue two occupants. He later located and removed two more victims.

Lieutenant Daniel Santry, Brockton, MA, Fire Department, Tower 2
With firefighters Eonas and Santry, located and removed two victims after assisting an infant and woman down a ground ladder at a house fire.

$100 Winners

Joshua Allen, Fairfax County, VA, Fire & Rescue
While off duty and without PPE, he witnessed a car hit traffic pole. He positioned his car for scene safety, broke window with tire iron to gain access to multiple patients, and maintained cervical immobilization of elderly patient.

Terrance Andrews, Chattanooga, TN, FD
Responding to medical call, he noticed smoke but was unable to reach woman due to fire. He cleared window bars barehanded after attempting with ax, and pulled woman through window.

Mauricio Arenas, Miami-Dade, FL, Fire Rescue
While off duty with his sons, he performed life-saving rescue on second floor of apartment without PPE or SCBA. He suffered smoke inhalation.

Peter Bagdovitz, Washington, DC, FD
He performed high-angle technical rescue in small single bank elevator with five people trapped. He removed victims 65 feet from top of elevator car to shaft way doors.

Albert Boyd, Baltimore City, MD, FD
He searched ahead of charged hoseline in burning apartment, found and removed child. With PPE smoking
and burning, he re-entered and helped find second child.

Jeremie Brenahan, Coon Rapids, MN, FD
He placed 35-foot ladder, entered apartment with no SCBA and rescued victim. Later, he moved ladder to adjacent apartment to remove more victims.

Jason Buttenshaw, Fairfax County, VA, Fire & Rescue
While participating in a marathon, he witnessed a man collapse. He and another off-duty firefighter performed CPR until medics arrived.

Kelly Byrne, Washington, DC, FD
He performed high-angle technical rescue in small elevator with five people trapped. He completed rigging of final victim by himself.

Chris Chacon, Phoenix, AZ, FD
While on vacation, he heard that an 11-year-old girl was drowning. He swam out in strong undertow to rescue
her. He later returned for her uncle, but had to turn back due to vomiting water and physical exhaustion.

Jeffrey Chaffin, Houston, TX, FD
He used a saw to force barred window, searched apartment with thermal imaging camera, located and removed three children.

Jeffrey Coffman, Fairfax County, VA, Fire & Rescue
While traveling off duty, came upon three-vehicle crash. Without PPE or first aid equipment, he triaged and treated multiple patients. He also assisted with extrication of trapped patient

Denise Dicken, Prince Georges County, MD, FD
Traveling home after shift, she came upon crash in which the vehicle's engine burst into flames. She grabbed fire extinguishers from passing motorists to quell the flames. Later, she assessed and treated the
patient.

Timothy Dowd, Washington, DC, FD
He assisted with high-angle technical rescue of five people trapped in small elevator.

Jason Earl, Fairfax County, VA, Fire & Rescue
He ran into a structure without protection of a hoseline, but quickly exited due to heavy fire and smoke conditions. He went back in with a hose, and eventually located and rescued two victims.

Raymond Edwards, Bladensburg, MD, VFD
Under heavy fire conditions, he dug man out from under debris and pulled him to safety. The debris included 50 years of newspapers. He suffered minor burns.

Kevin Franzello, Manassas, VA, VFC
Operating hoseline, he heard call for help. He crawled to rear of home, and assisted in removal of obese patient.

Michael Frezza, Manssas, VA, VFC
He entered house fire without the benefit of SCBA or hose. He assisted in removal of 400-pound victim.

Brandon Frieder, College Park, MD, VFD
Searching ahead of hoseline in low visibility and high heat conditions, he assisted in removing victim from small, cluttered apartment.

Forest Goings, Columbus, OH, Div. of Fire
He found an intoxicated person dangling by a wire off a roof. He went out narrow window onto a wet, steep-angled roof to rescue the victim.

John Gonzales, Denver, CO, FD
In heavy smoke and high heat conditions, a firefighter's SCBA malfunctioned. When victim collapsed, connected buddy breather hose and assisted him to safety.

Christine Haber, Prince George's County, MD, FD
Traveling home after shift, she came upon a crash in which the vehicle's engine was on fire. Using extinguishers from other motorists, she quelled the flames and assisted with the patient.

Dave Haley, Los Angeles County, CA, FD
He held fire in check while a search was initiated for victims.

Ronald Halley, Baltimore County, MD, FD
He knocked down fire, took over search and rescue, located and removed child victim.

Timothy Hannen, Baltimore County, MD, FD
He stretched line to second floor, and started search operations. He switched positions with other firefighter to execute effective search and rescue.

William Hawkins, Prince George's County, MD, FD
Responded on air unit to two unconscious workers in a 15- to 20-foot sewer shaft. He used a high-pressure breathing air supply line into sewer. He helped hoist the victims out.

Robert Holland, Florence, SC, FD
Facing heavy smoke, he used a thermal imaging camera to locate a female victim. He later found male victim, assisted in carrying him out and performed CPR.

Kyle Howell, Columbus, OH, Div. of Fire
Without the protection of a hoseline, he removed structural debris and rescued woman from burning vehicle that hit a structure.

Joe Ingram, Los Angeles County, CA, FD
He performed search in heavy fire conditions, located and removed victim using classic fireman's carry for 150 feet.

Carl Jones, Fairfax County, VA
Witnessing a crash while working at part-time job, he rushed to burning vehicle without PPE or hoseline protection and pulled the unconscious driver to safety. Vehicle then became engulfed in flames.

Derrick Keubeck, College Park, MD, VFDHe went ahead of hoseline in low visibility and high heat conditions, and assisted in removing the victim from small, cluttered basement apartment.

Richard Lawhon, Florence, SC, FD
Facing heavy smoke, used thermal imaging camera to locate female victim. After getting her out of the house, he returned and found another victim.

Martin Lieb, Columbus, OH, Div. of Fire
Holding his breath after SCBA failed and without the protection of a hoseline, he removed woman from burning vehicle that hit a structure.

Joshua Liebross, College Park, MD, VFD
Located and assisted in removal of unconscious victim in limited visibility and high heat conditions.

Jay Love, Columbus, OH, Div. of Fire
Assisted in securing victim dangling from a wire off a roof.

Omar Shareef, Baltimore City, MD, FD
He crawled through dense smoke and heat to assist in finding and removing child while PPE was burning.

Richard Slepetz, Fairfax County, VA, Fire & Rescue
Using a thermal imaging camera, he located two victims in heavy fire and smoke conditions. He entered initially without hoseline.

Greg Stienstra, Phoenix, AZ, FD
He rescued woman from heavy fire that was so intense, his PPE was destroyed and his facepiece crystallized.

Brian Thrasher, Huntingtown, MD, VFD
He assisted in removing victim, and initiating CPR. He re-entered the structure to search for and remove second victim.

Calvin Thomas, Houston, TX, FD
He used saw to force barred window, searched apartment with thermal imaging camera, located and removed three children.

David Thomas, Charlotte, NC, FD
While suspended 180 feet under aircraft, he rigged a harness to hoist a patient out of a ravine.

Breck Timbs, Gregg Township, IN, FD
With heavy smoke venting and without a hoseline, he searched for and located trapped wheelchair-bound victim, who did not survive. He re-entered the trailer with charged line.

Ryan Trapp, Milwaukee, WI, FD
Without the benefit of a hoseline, he found stairway in zero visibility. He located and removed an unconscious victim.

Jeff Voncannon, Department
He coordinated placement of
aircraft and rope harness
during hoist of climber who fell into a ravine.

Honorable Mentions

Philip Amenkowicz, Cambridge, MA, FD

Russell Barton, Columbus, OH

Alan Corn, Kileen, TX, FD

Michael Cook, FDNY

James Cox, Florence, SC

Mike Daughtry, Tuscaloosa, AL, Fire Rescue

Joe Esswein, St. Louis, MO, FD

Jack Freeman, Tuscaloosa, AL, Fire Rescue

Dan Grischow, Crystal Lake, IL, FD

Rodney Heard, St. Louis, MO, FD

Anthony King, Florence, AL, FD

Bob Kohley, Crystal Lake, IL, FD

Matt Leuck, Crystal Lake, IL, FD

Mike Lucas, Crystal Lake, IL, FD

Dustin Merryman, Prince Geoerge's County, MD, FD

Bart Molli, Columbus, OH, Div. of Fire

Bobby Morgan, Chattanooga, TN, FD

Brian O'Regan, Cambridge, MA, FD

Robert Olszewski, Crystal Lake, IL, FD

Steve Pierson, St. Louis, MO, FD

Hiedi Resek, Crystal Lake, IL, FD

Derrick Riddle, Tuscaloosa, AL, Fire Rescue

Barton Russell, Columbus, OH, FD

John Snider, Tuscaloosa, AL, Fire Rescue

Joyce Stevenson, Crystal Lake, IL, FD

Jim Susteck, St. Louis, MO, FD

David Thompson, Chattanooga, TN, FD

Matt Thuma, Crystal Lake, IL, FD

Paul Urbano, Anchorage, AK, FD

David Vigilante, Cmabridge, MA, FD

Donald Wagner, Columbus, OH, Div. of Fire

Mike Ward, Florence, SC, FD

Brad Wilson, Kileen, TX, FD

Chris Wirth, Kileen, TX, FD

Community Service Awards

Eric Smith, Midland, TX, FD/ARFF Station
Responding to a medical call for a hysterical man, he found a U.S. Marine sergeant who had just learned his family had been involved in a crash. His one-year-old daughter was killed, while his wife and six-yearold daughter were in a hospital. Smith chartered a plane with his own money to take the sergeant to his family. He then started a trust fund at a local bank and solicited donations from Midland area citizens to support the couple, whose daughter succombed to her injuries.

Leslie Grundler, Contra Costa County, CA, Fire Protection District
In addition to being the coordinator of charity events at her previous fire department, she runs the Bikes for Tykes program, donating to more than 25 organizations. In 2006, the program gave a record 370 new bicycles and tricycles to needy children. She also works as a driver for patients with the cancer foundation, and assists low-income families with the Giving Tree organization.

Dennis Wood, Prince George's County, MD, Fire/EMS
He developed and organized the PRIDE (Proactive Residential Information Distribution Effort) program to give out free smoke alarms and fire safety information as well as fresh batteries. Since the program's inception, fire fatalities have dropped by 70%. The goal is to visit all 850,000 residences during the four year effort.

Clinton Powell, Anchorage, AK, FD
He coordinates the car seat inspection program, checking approximately 30 child/ infant seats each month for safe and proper installation. More than 100 car seats have been given out to needy families. He also has replaced seats at no cost to the department. He also works with Providence Safe Kids to provide bike helmets.

Donnie Hardee, Greenville, NC, Fire/Rescue
He turned to laughter to get kids to listen to important fire and life safety messages. He organized the "Clown Brigade." Characters include "Bunkerz," "Squirt" and "Safe- T." He attended clown training, and dedicated countless off -duty hours coming up with entertaining skits, props and costumes.

Ramp Gang (lead by Phillip Sullivan & Robert LaRose), Worcester, MA, FD
The crew builds ramps for elderly, handicapped and housebound individuals who are oft en without financial means to pay for them. In 2006, the gang built ramps totaling several hundred feet. There are over 50 participating members.

Honorable Mentions

Gerald T. Cabaday, Erie, PA, FD

Ronald Wilkinson, Brandywine, MD, FD

Unit Citations

Cobb, GA, Fire & Emergency Serv.: Ronald G. Fagan, Trevor A. Levy, Stephen C. Bennet, & Kerry LambertSearching the floor above the fire in a seven-story hotel without a hoseline, the crew faced zero visibility and crawled to find one victim. The fire flashed over before they could reach the second. A third victim was rescued in a stairwell.

Fairfax County, VA, Fire Rescue: R419Providing mutual aid to Prince William County, the crew responded to a tractor-trailer crash 150 yards off the road. They set up a rope system, carried down tools and assisted in extrication of victim for aerial evacuation.

Manassas, VA, VFC: Michael Lesnick, Jeff Lenard, James McCormack, James RoseResponding to a house fire with people trapped, they prepared to enter the basement. An explosion blew the crew out of the house, and knocked one unconscious. With worsening conditions, they directed the hoseline.

Tuscaloosa, AL, Fire Rescue: Derrick Riddle, John Snider, Mike Daugherty & Jack FreemanFacing a house heavily involved with fire and smoke so thick that the thermal imaging camera was difficult to read, the crew performed a search. They found the victim, lifted him out a window and performed BLS until equipment arrived.

Brockton, MA, FD: Tower 2Four people were rescued under heavy smoke and fire conditions without the protection of a hoseline. Members accessed the home through ground ladders via a third floor window. They found two unconscious adults, dragged them to the window, and performed life-saving measures.

Fairfax CountyWhen a storm dropped more than 13 inches of rain in some areas, multiple emergency situations arose, including the flooding of up to 100 homes. Water rose over cars and into house. Major roads were closed. Approximately 80 people were rescued. One business and and 245 homes were damaged, causing about $11 million.

This year's Firehouse Heroism Award recipients were awarded prizes with support from E-One, V.H. Blackinton & Co., Inc. and The Charles Evans Foundation. If you would like to nominate someone from your department for next years awards, please clickhere.